Self-marking firearm target including a resiliently deformable marking sheet



Jan. 21, 1969 w. KANDEL SELF-MARKING FIREARM TARGET INCLUDING A RESILIENTLY DEFORMABLE MARKING SHEET Filed Oct. 11, 1965 Wolfer Kandel BY INVENTOR United States Patent 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A stiff backing sheet supports a marking sheet of bullet-puncturable, resiliently deformable foamed rubber or plastic having glued to its front surface a bulletpuncturable target sheet the front surface of which is of a color contrasting with the color of the front surface of the marking sheet.

This invention relates to a firearm target which is selfmarking in that when it is penetrated by a bullet, the resulting bullet hole becomes marked with a colored material, thereby enhancing its visibility from a distance.

When target shooting with conventional targets, particularly at long range, a commonplace problem is present in that the bullet holes through the target are almost invisible to the marksman. Hence it frequently is necessary after firing the predetermined number of rounds, to travel to the target in order to inspect it at close range to determine the shooting score. The marksman then must return to the shooting station before resuming practice. This obviously is a time-consuming routine which is irritating and interrupts the marksmans attentive effort.

It is the general object of the present invention to provide a target which is self-marking in that, when it is struck by a bullet, the area about the bullet puncture is identified with a colored material and hence becomes readily visible even at a substantial distance.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a self-marking target which may be manufactured easily and inexpensively and which is usable in accordance with the usual target shooting practices, but much more efliciently.

The manner in which the foregoing and other objects of this invention are accomplished will be apparent from the accompanying specification and claims considered together with the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the presently described self-marking firearm target with the surface layers partly peeled away, to show the inner construction of the target; and

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

In essence, the firearm target of the present invention comprises a bullet-puncturable target sheet having a target design inscribed on its exterior surface. Immediately behind the target sheet is a bullet-puncturable, resilientlydeformable marking sheet of foam rubber or other suitable resilient material. The front surface of the marking sheet has a color contrasting with the color of the front surface of the target sheet.

Accordingly, when the target is punctured by a bullet, registering bullet holes are formed through the target sheet and marking sheet. However, whereas the bullet hole through the target sheet remains open and well defined, that through the resiliently deformable marking sheet is self-closing so that the colored sub-stance of the marking sheet is clearly visible through the bullet hole present in the target sheet. This renders the bullet hole clearly visible from a great distance.

" ice Considering the foregoing in greater detail and with particular reference to the drawings:

-As illustrated, the firearm target of my invention includes a bullet-puncturable target sheet 10. This is made of paper, thin cardboard or other suitable material. :It has front and back faces, the front face normally being white and inscribed with a target design of the desired size and arrangement.

Immediately behind the target sheet is a bullet-puncturable, resiliently-deformable marking sheet 12. This is maintained in position in relation to the target sheet in a suitable manner as by being glued to the black face of the latter.

The marking sheet may be made from a variety of materials such as foamed natural rubber, foamed synthetic rubber, or various foamed plastic materials which inherently are resiliently deformable. The total substance of the marking sheet, or at least its front surface, is of a color which contrasts with the color of the front face of target sheet 10. Preferably the color is red, orange or other color visible from a great distance.

Immediately behind marking sheet 12, and preferably glued or otherwise fixed to its back surface, is a backing sheet 14. The backing sheet is made from stiff cardboard or other suitable sheet material and serves the dual functions of imparting rigidity to the target and of containing the resiliently deformable marking sheet, sandwich fashion.

When a bullet strikes the target, it forms three registering perforations 16, 18, 20 through target sheet 10, marking sheet 12, and backing sheet 14 respectively. The bullet hole through target sheet 10 remains broken away in the usual manner. However, after spreading to permit passage of the bullet, the resiliently deformable substance of marking sheet 12 closes again as evident in FIG. 2 to form a layer underlying opening 16 through the target sheet. Since the outer face of the target sheet 10 is one color, for example white, and the exposed surface of the underlying marking sheet 12 is of a contrasting color, for example red or orange, the puncture through the target is marked vividly so that it may be seen easily, thus achieving the dbject of the invention of providing a self-marking target which may be read from a great distance.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herein shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A firearm target comprising (a) a bullet-puncturable target sheet having front and back surfaces,

(b) the front surface of the target sheet being marked with a target design,

(0) a bullet-puncturable, resiliently-deformable marking sheet glued to the back surface of the sheet,

(d) the front surface of the marking sheet being of a color contrasting with the color of the front surface of the target sheet,

(e) and a backing sheet of stiff, bullet-puncturable material glued to the back side of the marking sheet,

(f) the resiliently deformable marking sheet, upon penetration of the target by a bullet to form registering bullet holes through the component sheets of the target, first compressing to permit passage of the bullet and thereafter expanding to fill the bullet hole through itself and underlie the bullet hole through the target sheet, thereby rendering the bullet hole clearly visible from a distance.

2. A firearm target comprising (a) a bullet-puncturable target sheet having front and back surfaces,

(b) the front surface of the target sheet being marked with a target design,

(c) and, immediately behind and bonded to the target sheet, a bullet-puncturable, resiliently-deformable marking sheet of a material selected from the class consisting of foamed rubber and resiliently deformable foamed plastic,

(d) the front surface of the marking sheet being of a color contrasting with the color of the front surface of the target sheet,

(e) the resiliently deformable marking sheet, upon penetration of the target by a bullet to form registering bullet holes through both sheets, first compressing to permit passage of the bullet and thereafter expanding to fill the bullet hole through itself and underlie the bullet hole through the target sheet, thereby rendering the bullet hole clearly visible from a distance.

3. The firearm target of claim 2 wherein the resiliently deformable marking sheet comprises a sheet of foamed rubber.

4. The firearm target of claim 2 wherein the resiliently 5 deformable marking sheet comprises foamed plastic.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS 858,951 12/ 1952 Germany.

15 ANTON o. OECHSLE, Primary Examiner.

M. R. PAGE, Assistant Examiner. 

